“Well。”saidhe，“itmightbebetter，anditmightbeworse。
ThisCaptainTrentisaremarkablyhonestfellow——oneoutofathousand。AssoonasheknewIwasinthemarket，heownedupaboutthericeinsomanywords。Byhiscalculation，ifthere’sthirtymatsofitsaved，it’sanoutsidefigure。However，themanifestwascheerier。There’saboutfivethousanddollarsofthewholevalueinsilksandteasandnut-oilsandthat，allinthelazarette，andassafeasifitwasinKearneyStreet。Thebrigwasnewcopperedayearago。There’supwardsofahundredandfiftyfathomaway-upchain。It’snotabonanza，butthere’sboodleinit；andwe’lltryiton。”
Itwasbythattimehardonteno’clock，andweturnedatonceintotheplaceofsale。TheFlyingScud，althoughsoimportanttoourselves，appearedtoattractaveryhumbleshareofpopularattention。Theauctioneerwassurroundedbyperhapsascoreoflookers-on，bigfellows，forthemostpart，ofthetrueWesternbuild，longintheleg，broadintheshoulder，andadornedtoaplainman’stastewithneedlessfinery。Ajaunty，ostentatiouscomradeshipprevailed。Betswereflying，andnicknames。
“Theboys“astheywouldhavecalledthemselveswereveryboyish；anditwasplaintheywerehereinmirth，andnotonbusiness。Behind，andcertainlyinstrongcontrasttothesegentlemen，IcoulddetectthefigureofmyfriendCaptainTrent，comeasIcouldverywellimaginethatacaptainwouldtohearthelastofhisoldvessel。Sinceyesterday，hehadriggedhimselfanewinready-madeblackclothes，notveryaptlyfitted；
theupperleft-handpocketshowingacornerofsilkhandkerchief，thelower，ontheotherside，bulgingwithpapers。
Pinkertonhadjustgiventhismanahighcharacter。Certainlyheseemedtohavebeenveryfrank，andIlookedathimagaintotraceifpossiblethatvirtueinhisface。ItwasredandbroadandflusteredandIthoughtfalse。Thewholemanlookedsickwithsomeunknownanxiety；andashestoodthere，unconsciousofmyobservation，hetoreathisnails，scowledonthefloor，orglancedsuddenly，sharply，andfearfullyatpassers-by。Iwasstillgazingatthemaninakindoffascination，whenthesalebegan。
Somepreliminarieswererattledthrough，totheirreverent，uninterruptedgambollingoftheboys；andthen，amidatriflemoreattention，theauctioneersoundedforsometwoorthreeminutesthepipeofthecharmer。Finebrig——newcopper——
valuablefittings——threefineboats——remarkablychoicecargo——
whattheauctioneerwouldcallaperfectlysafeinvestment；nay，gentlemen，hewouldgofurther，hewouldputafigureonit：hehadnohesitationhadthatboldauctioneerinputtingitinfigures；andinhisview，whatwiththisandthat，andonethingandanother，thepurchasermightexpecttoclearasumequaltotheentireestimatedvalueofthecargo；or，gentlemen，inotherwords，asumoftenthousanddollars。Atthismodestcomputationtheroofimmediatelyabovethespeaker’sheadI
suppose，throughtheinterventionofaspectatorofventriloquialtastesutteredaclear“Cock-a-doodle-doo！”——whereatalllaughed，theauctioneerhimselfobliginglyjoining。
“Now，gentlemen，whatshallwesay？”resumedthatgentleman，plainlyoglingPinkerton，——“whatshallwesayforthisremarkableopportunity？”
“Onehundreddollars。”saidPinkerton。
“OnehundreddollarsfromMr。Pinkerton。”wenttheauctioneer，“onehundreddollars。Noothergentlemaninclinedtomakeanyadvance？Onehundreddollars，onlyonehundreddollars——“
Theauctioneerwasdroningontosomesuchtuneasthis，andI，onmypart，waswatchingwithsomethingbetweensympathyandamazementtheundisguisedemotionofCaptainTrent，whenwewereallstartledbytheinterjectionofabid。
“Andfifty。”saidasharpvoice。
Pinkerton，theauctioneer，andtheboys，whowereallequallyintheopensecretofthering，werenowallequallyandsimultaneouslytakenaback。
“Ibegyourpardon。”saidtheauctioneer。“Anybodybid？”
“Andfifty。”reiteratedthevoice，whichIwasnowabletotracetoitsorigin，onthelipsofasmall，unseemlyragofhuman-
kind。Thespeaker’sskinwasgrayandblotched；hespokeinakindofbrokensong，withmuchvarietyofkey；hisgesturesseemedasinthediseasecalledSaintVitus’sdancetobeimperfectlyundercontrol；hewasbadlydressed；hecarriedhimselfwithanairofshrinkingassumption，asthoughhewereproudtobewherehewasandtodowhathewasdoing，andyethalfexpectedtobecalledinquestionandkickedout。IthinkI
neversawamanmoreofapiece；andthetypewasnewtome；
Ihadneverbeforeseteyesuponhisparallel，andIthoughtinstinctivelyofBalzacandthelowerregionsofthe_ComedieHumaine_。
Pinkertonstaredamomentontheintruderwithnofriendlyeye，torealeaffromhisnote-book，andscribbledalineinpencil，turned，beckonedamessengerboy，andwhispered，“ToLonghurst。”Nextmomenttheboyhadspeduponhiserrand，andPinkertonwasagainfacingtheauctioneer。
“Twohundreddollars。”saidJim。
“Andfifty。”saidtheenemy。
“Thislookslively。”whisperedItoPinkerton。
“Yes；thelittlebeastmeanscolddrawnbiz。”returnedmyfriend。“Well，he’llhavetohavealesson。WaittillIseeLonghurst。Threehundred。”headdedaloud。
“Andfifty。”cametheecho。
ItwasaboutthismomentwhenmyeyefellagainonCaptainTrent。Adeepershadehadmountedtohiscrimsonface：thenewcoatwasunbuttonedandallflyingopen；thenewsilkhandkerchiefinbusyrequisition；andtheman’seye，ofaclearsailorblue，shoneglassywithexcitement。Hewasanxiousstill，butnowifIcouldreadafacetherewashopeinhisanxiety。
“Jim。”Iwhispered，“lookatTrent。Betyouwhatyoupleasehewasexpectingthis。”
“Yes。”wasthereply，“there’ssomeblame’thinggoingonhere。”
Andherenewedhisbid。
ThefigurehadrunupintotheneighbourhoodofathousandwhenIwasawareofasensationinthefacesopposite，andlookingovermyshoulder，sawaverylarge，bland，handsomemancomestrollingforthandmakealittlesignaltotheauctioneer。
“Oneword，Mr。Borden。”saidhe；andthentoJim，“Well，Pink，whereareweuptonow？”
Pinkertongavehimthefigure。“Iranuptothatonmyownresponsibility，Mr。Longhurst。”headded，withaflush。“I
thoughtitthesquarething。”
“Andsoitwas。”saidMr。Longhurst，pattinghimkindlyontheshoulder，likeagratifieduncle。“Well，youcandropoutnow；
wetakeholdourselves。Youcanrunituptofivethousand；
andifhelikestogobeyondthat，he’swelcometothebargain。”
“Bytheby，whoishe？”askedPinkerton。“Helooksawaydown。”
“I’vesentBillytofindout。”AndattheverymomentMr。
Longhurstreceivedfromthehandsofoneoftheexpensiveyounggentlemenafoldedpaper。Itwaspassedroundfromonetoanothertillitcametome，andIread：“HarryD。Bellairs，Attorney-at-Law；defendedClaraVarden；twicenearlydisbarred。”
“Well，thatgetsme！”observedMr。Longhurst。“Whocanhaveputupashyster[1]likethat？Nobodywithmoney，that’sasurething。Supposeyoutriedabigbluff？IthinkIwould，Pink。Well，ta-ta！Yourpartner，Mr。Dodd？Happytohavethepleasureofyouracquaintance，sir。”Andthegreatmanwithdrew。
[1]Alowlawyer。
“Well，whatdoyouthinkofDouglasB。？”whisperedPinkerton，lookingreverentlyafterhimashedeparted。“Sixfootofperfectgentlemanandculturetohisboots。”
Duringthisinterviewtheauctionhadstoodtransparentlyarrested，theauctioneer，thespectators，andevenBellairs，allwellawarethatMr。Longhurstwastheprincipal，andJimbutaspeaking-trumpet。ButnowthattheOlympianJupiterwasgone，Mr。Bordenthoughtpropertoaffectseverity。
“Come，come，Mr。Pinkerton。Anyadvance？”hesnapped。
AndPinkerton，resolvedonthebigbluff，replied，“Twothousanddollars。”
Bellairspreservedhiscomposure。“Andfifty。”saidhe。Buttherewasastiramongtheonlookers，andwhatwasofmoreimportance，CaptainTrenthadturnedpaleandvisiblygulped。
“Pitchitinagain，Jim。”saidI。“Trentisweakening。”
“Threethousand。”saidJim。
“Andfifty。”saidBellairs。
Andthenthebiddingreturnedtoitsoriginalmovementbyhundredsandfifties；butIhadbeenableinthemeanwhiletodrawtwoconclusions。Inthefirstplace，Bellairshadmadehislastadvancewithasmileofgratifiedvanity；andIcouldseethecreaturewasgloryinginthekudosofanunusualpositionandsecureofultimatesuccess。Inthesecond，Trenthadoncemorechangedcolouratthethousandleap，andhisrelief，whenheheardtheansweringfiftywasmanifestandunaffected。Herethenwasaproblem：bothwerepresumablyinthesameinterest，yettheonewasnotintheconfidenceoftheother。Norwasthisall。AfewbidslateritchancedthatmyeyeencounteredthatofCaptainTrent，andhis，whichglitteredwithexcitement，wasinstantly，andIthoughtguiltily，withdrawn。
Hewished，then，toconcealhisinterest？AsJimhadsaid，therewassomeblamedthinggoingon。Andforcertain，herewerethesetwomen，sostrangelyunited，sostrangelydivided，bothsharp-settokeepthewreckfromus，andthatatanexorbitantfigure。
Wasthewreckworthmorethanwesupposed？Asuddenheatwaskindledinmybrain；thebidswerenearingLonghurst’slimitoffivethousand；anotherminute，andallwouldbetoolate。Tearingaleaffrommysketch-book，andinspiredI
supposebyvanityinmyownpowersofinferenceandobservation，Itooktheonemaddecisionofmylife。“Ifyoucaretogoahead。”Iwrote，“I’minforallI’mworth。”
Jimreadandlookedroundatmelikeonebewildered；thenhiseyeslightened，andturningagaintotheauctioneer，hebid，“Fivethousandonehundreddollars。”
“Andfifty。”saidmonotonousBellairs。
PresentlyPinkertonscribbled，“Whatcanitbe？”andI
answered，stillonpaper：“Ican’timagine；butthere’ssomething。WatchBellairs；he’llgouptothetenthousand，seeifhedon’t。”
Andhedid，andwefollowed。Longbeforethis，wordhadgoneabroadthattherewasbattleroyal：weweresurroundedbyacrowdthatlookedonwondering；andwhenPinkertonhadofferedtenthousanddollarstheoutsidevalueofthecargo，evenwereitsafeinSanFranciscoBayandBellairs，smirkingfromeartoeartobethecentreofsomuchattention，hadjerkedouthisanswering，“Andfifty。”wonderdeepenedtoexcitement。
“Tenthousandonehundred。”saidJim；andevenashespokehemadeasuddengesturewithhishand，hisfacechanged，andI
couldseethathehadguessed，orthoughtthathehadguessed，themystery。Ashescrawledanothermemoranduminhisnote-
book，hishandshooklikeatelegraph-operator’s。
“Chineseship。”ranthelegend；andthen，inbig，tremuloushalf-text，andwithaflourishthatoverranthemargin，“Opium！”
Tobesure！thoughtI：thismustbethesecret。IknewthatscarceashipcameinfromanyChineseport，butshecarriedsomewhere，behindabulkhead，orinsomecunninghollowofthebeams，anestofthevaluablepoison。DoubtlesstherewassomesuchtreasureontheFlyingScud。Howmuchwasitworth？Weknewnot，weweregamblinginthedark；butTrentknew，andBellairs；andwecouldonlywatchandjudge。
BythistimeneitherPinkertonnorIwereofsoundmind。
Pinkertonwasbesidehimself，hiseyeslikelamps。Ishookineverymember。Toanystrangerenteringsayinthecourseofthefifteenththousand，weshouldprobablyhavecutapoorerfigurethanBellairshimself。Butwedidnotpause；andthecrowdwatchedus，nowinsilence，nowwithabuzzofwhispers。
Seventeenthousandhadbeenreached，whenDouglasB。
Longhurst，forcinghiswayintotheoppositerowoffaces，conspicuouslyandrepeatedlyshookhisheadatJim。Jim’sanswerwasanoteoftwowords：“Myracket！”which，whenthegreatmanhadperused，heshookhisfingerwarninglyanddeparted，Ithought，withasorrowfulcountenance。
AlthoughMr。LonghurstknewnothingofBellairs，theshadylawyerknewallabouttheWreckerBoss。Hehadseenhimentertheringwithmanifestexpectation；hesawhimdepart，andthebidscontinue，withmanifestsurpriseanddisappointment。“Hullo。”heplainlythought，“thisisnottheringI’mfighting，then？”Andhedeterminedtoputonaspurt。
“Eighteenthousand。”saidhe。
“Andfifty。”saidJim，takingaleafoutofhisadversary’sbook。
“Twentythousand。”fromBellairs。
“Andfifty。”fromJim，withalittlenervoustitter。
Andwithoneconsenttheyreturnedtotheoldpace，onlynowitwasBellairswhotookthehundreds，andJimwhodidthefiftybusiness。Butbythistimeourideahadgoneabroad。Icouldheartheword“opium“passfrommouthtomouth；andbythelooksdirectedatus，Icouldseeweweresupposedtohavesomeprivateinformation。AndhereanincidentoccurredhighlytypicalofSanFrancisco。Closeatmybacktherehadstoodforsometimeastout，middle-agedgentleman，withpleasanteyes，hairpleasantlygrizzled，andaruddy，pleasingface。Allofasuddenheappearedasathirdcompetitor，skiedtheFlyingScudwithfourfatbidsofathousanddollarseach，andthenassuddenlyfledthefield，remainingthenceforthasbeforeasilent，interestedspectator。
EversinceMr。Longhurst’suselessintervention，Bellairshadseemeduneasy；andatthisnewattack，hebeganinhisturntoscribbleanotebetweenthebids。IimaginednaturallyenoughthatitwouldgotoCaptainTrent；butwhenitwasdone，andthewriterturnedandlookedbehindhiminthecrowd，tomyunspeakableamazement，hedidnotseemtoremarkthecaptain’spresence。
“Messengerboy，messengerboy！”Iheardhimsay。“Somebodycallmeamessengerboy。”